Thumb-holing means for box-covering machines



c. D. CHENEY THUMB HOLING MEANS FOR BOX COVERING MACHINES Filed Aug. 28, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 c. D. CHENEY THUMB HOLING MEANS FOR BOX COVERING MACHINES Filed Aug. 28. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV, 1924- 1.515345 c. D. CHENEY THUMB HOLING MEANS FOR BOX COVERING MACHINES Filed Aug.- 28, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

U STATES 1,515,145 PATENT OFFICE- COLEMAN D. CHENEY, OF LYNDHURST, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 H. SCHULTZ & COMPANY, OF'CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

THUMB-HO'LING MEANS FOR BOX-COVERING lvIACHINES.

Application filed August 28, 1923. Serial No. 659,740.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, COLEMAN D. CHENEY,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lyndhurst, county of Bergen, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in and for Thumb- Holing Means for Box-Covering Machines, of which the following is a specification. 1O

ing machinery and more jparticulary to machines for wrapping or covering paper-boxes in the rough with the finishing paper, usuallly glazed, colored paper bearing printed or lithographed matter. The invention relates particularly to a thumb-holing attachment for machines of the aforesaid general type. The main object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means whereby, upon completion of the covering operation performed by the machine, the thumbnotches or recessesare automatically cut out of the edges of opposed walls of the boX (usually box-covers), to thereby obviate the extra handling and separate thumb-holing operation heretofore required.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for punching or' cutting out thumb-holes or notches as aforesaid, which are applicable to machines of the type specified, without in the slightest degree varying the mechanism or normal operations of the same.

The invention consists broadly in the provisionof means for effecting the cutting of thumb-holes or the like frompaper-boxes as a part of or constituting the final finishing operation, to thereby obviate an additional handling of and operation upon the box. In the accompanying drawings the invention is shown or embodied in the form of an attachment to machines of the general type mentioned, but this is merely an exembeing capable of being variously embodied to suit machines of different constructions,

without departing from the invention as de- This invention relates to paper-box mak plary adaptation of the invention, the same with thumb-holing attachments constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the box-carrying plunger of the machine, showing the female member of the attachment mounted thereon.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the said female member detached from the plunger. 7 v

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the plunger and said female member. v

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a finished box-cover provided with thumb-holes or notches adapted to be cut by the device.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail side elevation of one end portion of a male member of the attachment.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view in elevation of the box-carrying plunger and the members of the attachment at'oneside thereof, in their relative positions, during the beginning of the down-stroke of said plunger.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 8, showing .their relative position at a point in .the up-stroke of the plunger.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the parts in their relative positions at a point in the up-stroke 0f the plunger near completion of said stroke.

It will be understood, of course, that the word box as used in; this specification refers to either the box, per se, or the cover therefor, it being wholly immaterial, in so far as the mechanism is concerned, whether it operates on the box or the cover. I

The machineillustrated in the drawings includes a vertically reciprocable plunger comprising two vertically separable partsl and 2, which, when disposed at the upper limit of their movement, as shown in dotted lines at the top of Fig. 1, are adapted to receive the box 3, adapted to be frictionally held thereon by snug fit. Just previously to mounting said box 3 on the plunger, the properly cut covering sheet 4;, covered with adhesive on one face, is applied to the bottom of the box.

The plunger 1,2, now moves downwardly and bears upon a yieldablyv supported plunger 5, which serves to press the coversheet 4t against the bottom of theboX and hold it against displacement during the ensuing downward travel of the plungers 1,2 and 5. The plunger 5 is normally disposed between brushes 6 which serve to turn the side-flange portions of the covering paper up and in contact with the side walls of the box. Rollers 7 disposed below the brushes 6, serve to bear upon the side walls of the box with a yielding pressure to smooth and firmly press the side flange portions of the covering'paper against said side walls, the said flange portions being of greater width than the depth of the box, in order to provide edge portions 8 to be folded over the 4 edges of the walls and into the box.

The machine includes mechanism, not shown, for folding the ends of the sidefiange portions of the covering sheet over upon the end walls of the box during .a

' period of rest of the plungers 1, 2, and 5,

and further includes brushes and rollers, not shown, similar to the brushes and rollers 6 and 7, for turning up and applying the end-flange portions of the covering sheet to the end walls of thebox during the next succeeding part of the down-stroke of the plungers to the respective positions shown in dotted lines near the bottom of Fig. 1.

It will be noted that in the last-named positions the plungers 1 and 2 are separated from each other, this being accomplished by discontinuing the travel of the plunger 2 while the plungers 1 and 5 continue their downward travel to a. point at which the upper edges of the walls of the box are flush with the lower faces, or horizontally reci-procable plungers 9 which are now caused to move inwardly to fold the edge portions of the flange portions of the covering sheet over the edges of the box-walls, whereupon the plungers 9 recede and the plunger 2 again moves downwardly to enter the box and contact with the plunger 1. In so doing it turns the inwardly projecting edges of the covering sheet down in contact with the inner faces of the side and end walls of the box. Mechanism, not shown, presses said respective walls of the box firmly against the opposed surfaces of the plunger 2 to effect uniform adhesion of the inturned edge-portions of the sheet to the inner surfaces of the box-walls.

The covering operation being now completed, the plungers 1, 2 and 5 return to the first-named positions. The mechanism of the machine includes means for stripping the covered box from. the plungers 1, 2, so that it rests upon the plunger 5, and also includes means for ejecting the finished box. The foregoing operations are then repeated with another box.

It will be appreciated that the aforesaid machine does not in any respect, or particular, constitute a part of the invention, the

illustration and description thereof being intended solely to render the thumb-holing attachment embodying the invention easily comprehensible. For these reasons none of the operating mechanism of said machine is illustrated or described.

The machine includes rigid frame elements 10 to which the bars 11, carrying the male elements'12 of my attachment, are adjustably secured by means of the bolts 13 passing through longitudinal slots 13 in the bars. The said bars 11 are provided at one end each with parallel arms 14k between which the said male members 12 are rotatably mounted on shafts 15 journalled in hearings in said arms 14:. One end of each of said shafts carries a crank-pin 16 with which one end of a helical tension spring 17 is pivotally connected, the other end thereof being similarly connected with a pin '18 on the bar .11.

The male member 12 includes an arcuate surface portion concentric with the axis of its shaft 15. This arcuate surface is equipped with a plurality of spur-gear teeth 19 and a male cutting die member 20.

The member 12 is further provided with parallel arms 2-1 between which an idle roll 22 is rotatably mounted, the axis of rotation of said roller lying in a diametric plane intersecting the axes of the shaft 15 and crank-pin 16 and which extends at substantially a right angle to a similar diametric plane intersecting the middle of the segmental gear formed by the teeth 19. The crank-pin 16 and roller 22 being disposed at opposite sides of the axis of the shaft 15, it follows that the roller 22 will be normally disposed in the position shown in Fig. 6.

The female die member (Fig. 3) comprisesthe plate 23 provided between its ends with spur gear teeth 24 with which the teeth 19 are adapted to mesh. Said teeth are bordered by removable plates 25 set, into recesses in the face of said plate and serving to shroud the teeth 24-. A steel-plate 26, constituting the female element of the cutting die, is mounted on the plate 23 and presents a substantially semi-circular cutting edge 27 bordering an opening below the teeth 21.

.Projecting from the rear face of the plate 23 between the ends of the latter is a flange 28 provided with an opening 29 communicating with the opening 30 in the plate 23 (partly coveredby the die element 26), and with the opening or recess 31 in the pluir ger 2.

The flange 28 fits and is secured in a recess in the top face of the plunger 2 by means of set-screws 32. The plunger 2 is further provided with side-edge recesses into which the lower end portions of the plate 23 are fitted. Openings 33 in the plunger 1 communicate with the openings 31 in the plunger 2 and receive the cuttings 31 chopped out of the edges ofthe side-walls of the boxes by the die-elements 20 and 26. Said cuttings fallinto the box and are removed from the machine therewith. -The upper portion of the plate 28 above the flange 28 projects above the upperface of the plunger 2.

c The plunger 1 is to be of a thickness or depth and of length and width determined 7 side walls of the covers or boxes become disposed in proper relation to the cutting die elements to cut the thumb-holes or notches 35.

It will be quite obvious that the cutting can be advantageously accomplished only after the box has been covered as, otherwise, the adhesive covered edge portion of the coating sheet would also have to be cut by the die-elements, thereby applying adhesive to surface of the plate 26 adjac-ent'the cutting edge thereof and also causing the waste pieces 3a to adhere to the interior surfaces of the openings or boxes. Therefore, it is necessary that the attachment or equivalent thumb-holing mechanism of the machine shall be maintained inactive until after the covering operations have been concluded.

The roller 22 is normally disposed inthe path of travel of the side edges of the plungers 1, 2 and 5 and, during downward travel of the latter is brought to the pos ition shown in Fig. 8, thereby moving the gear teeth 19 and male-die element20 out of engaging relation to the gear teeth 24: and female-die element 26. The roller is spring returned to the position shown in Fig. 6 as soon as the upper end of the plate 23 has passed it. I

But during the return or Lip-stroke of the plungers, the roller 22 is engaged by the upper edge of the plate 23 and thus an op posite rocking movement of the member. 12 is effected, whereby the segmental gear teeth 19 are moved toward and caused to mesh with the teeth 24:, to thereby continue the oscillatory movement of the member 12, until the die-elements 20 and 26 have performed their function of cutting out the pieces 34:, and the elements 20 are entirely free of the resulting notches in the walls of the boxes or covers. The further rotary movement of the members 12 effected by the interengagement of the'die-elements 20 with the walls of the notches 35, during continued upward movement of the plungers 1, 2 and 5, serves to throw the crank-pins 16 past the horizontal plane intersecting the axes of the shaft 15 and pin 18, (this plane being generally termed dead center line), where.- upon the spring 17 will further rotate the member 1.2 until the roller 22 strikes the plunger 5, where it is held until said plunger has passed it. This prevents the sharp edge of the element 20 scoring or scraping the covering sheet. The member 12 is then again in the position shown in Fig. 8 and after the plunger 5 passes the roller 22, the member 12 is spring-returned to the position of Fig. 6. I v Attention is directed to the fact that in Fig. lth'e full line positions of the plungers 1., 2 and 5 and the members 12, is identical with the positions shown in Fig. 10. V

In practice it has been found desirable to allow for a very slight yield or elasticity of the roller 22,for the reason that it has been found diflicult to so accurately determine the distance between the rack 24 and the upper edge of the face ofthe' wise, relatively thereto, the'distance between the circumferential face of the roller 22 and the segmental gear 19, as to effect an absolutely accurate mesh of the gear and rack at alltimes. The use of a raw-hide or fibre roller 22 has been found entirely satisfactory, though, obviously, other.well-known means for providing the limited yield or elasticity required may besubstituted according to the judgment of the, manufacturer.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, that the particular embodiment and mode of application and operationyof the invention may be readily changed and varied to adapt the same to machines of the general class designated, but differing in construction and operation from that illustrated and described, and may be modified for inclusion in and actuation by the mechanism of new inachines as distinguished from attachments ap plicable to old machines, without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims. I

I claim r 1'. In a machine of the class specified, the combination with the box carrier, of a dieelement carried thereby, a coacting die element carried by the frame of the machine, and means operatively associated with both die members, whereby to effect their co-operation at a predetermined point in the travel of said box carrier.

2. In abox covering machine, a box carrying element, means for effecting travel thereof from. and to a predetermined position, a cutting die element mounted on said carrier, a companion element carriedby the machine frame, andmechanism 'operatively associated with both said elements for actuating them at a predetern'iined period in the movement of said carrier during its travel in one direction.

3. In a box covering machine, a boxcarrying element, means for effecting travel thereplate 23, and, like- CII fix

of from and to a predetermined position, a cutting die element mounted on said carrier, acompanion element carried by the machine frame, and inter-engaging means common to both said elements for automatically actuating the same during travel of said carrier in one direction.

4. In a box covering machine, a box carrying element, means for effecting travel! thereof from and to a predetermined position, a cutting die element mounted on said carrier, a companion element carried by the machine frame, inter-engaging means common to both said elements for automatically actuating the same during travel of said carrier in one direction, and means for maintaining said inter-engaging means out of engaging relation to each other, to thereby prevent actuation of said elements during travel of said carrier in the opposite direction.

. 5. In a box-covering machine, the combination with a box-carrier and mechanism for effecting travel thereof in a. plurality of direct-ions, of coacting cutting die elements operatively associated with said carrier, one of said elements mounted on said carrier and another thereof mounted on a rigid portion of the machine, mechanism for effecting a relative movement of said elements during 1 travel of said carrier in one direction for throwing and maintaining them out of operative relation to each other and into operative'relation and actuation to effect cutting of the box on the carrier during travel of the latter in the opposite direction.

(5. In a box-covering machine, the combination with a. box-carrier and mechanism for effecting travel thereof in a plurality of directions, of coacting cutting die elements operatively associated with said carrier, one of said elements rigidly mounted on said carrier and another thereof movably mounted on a rigid portion of the machine, and means on the carrier and movable element, respectively, operatively associated with each other for effecting a relative cutting movement of said elements during travel of said carrier in one direction and throwing and maintaining the same out of actuating relation to each other during travel of said carrier in the opposite direction.

7. In a box-covering machine, the combination with a box-carrier and mechanism for effecting travel thereof in a plurality of directions, of coacting cutting die elements operatively associated with said carrier, one of said elements rigidly mounted on said carrier and another thereof movably mounted on a rigid portion of themachine, and means for eflecting a cutting movement of said movable element in operative relation to the companion element at a predetermined period in the travel of said carrier in one direction.

8. In a box-covering machine, the combi-- nation with a box-carrier and mechanism for effecting travel thereof in a plurality of directions, of coacting cutting die-elements operatively associated with said carrier, one of said elements rigidly mounted on said carrier and another thereof movably mounted on a rigid portion of the machine, and means for effecting a cutting movement- 0f said movable element in operative relation to the companion element at a predetermined period in the travel of said carrier in one direction without interrupting said travel.

9. In a box-covering machine, the combination With a box-carrier and mechanism for eflecting travel thereof in a plurality of directions successively, of a. female cutting die-element rigidly mounted on said carrier, a male cut-ting die-element movably mounted on the machine frame, a member on said male element normally disposedv in the path of travel of said carrier for throwing and maintaining said male element out of operative relation to said female element as said carrier moves in one direction and throwing the same into operative relation during travel of said carrier in another di-v rection, and mechanism operatively associat ed with said carrier and said male element for effecting actuation thereof to perform its cutting function during travel of the carrier in the last-named direction andwithout interrupting such travel.

10. In a box-covering machine, the combination with a box-carrier and mechanism for effecting travel thereof in a plurality of directions successively, of a female cutting die-element rigidly mounted on said carrier, a male cutting die-element movably mounted on the machine frame, a member on said male element normally disposed in the path of travel of said carrier for throwing and maintaining said male element out of operative relation to said female element as said carrier moves in one direction and throwing the same into operative relation during travel of said carrier in another direction, and inter-engaging rack and gear devices operatively associated with said carrier, said member and said male element, respectively, for effecting functioning of the latter and said female element during the last-named travel ofv said carrier.

11. In a box-covering machine, the combination with a box-carrier, and mechanism for effecting movement thereof, of cutting dies and mechanism for actuating the same at a predetermined period in the movement of said carrier operatively associated with said carrier and the machine frame.

12. In a box-covering machine, the combination with a box-carrier and mechanism for effecting movement thereof, of male and female cutting dies operatively associated with said carrier, at least one of said dies mounted on said carrier, and means mounted on a rigid portion of the machine and operatively associated with the said dies and said carrier for effecting functioning of said dies at apredetermined period in the movement of said carrier.

13. In a box-covering machine, the combination with a box-carrier, and mechanism for cifecting movement thereof, of a female cutting die-element rigidly mounted on the carrier, a male cutting die-element operatively associated with the machine frame, and mechanism operatively associated with said carrier and said male element for ef fecting pivotal movement thereof to throw and maintain the same out of operative relation to the female element of the movement of said carrier and throwing the same into operative relation to said female element and actuating the same relatively to the latter during another part of the movement of said carrier.

14,. In a box-covering machine, the combination with a box-carrier, and mechanism for effecting movement thereof, of a female cutting die element rigidly mounted on the carrier, a male cuttingie element pivotally associated with the machine frame, gear elements associated with said die elements for effecting relative cutting movement thereof during movement of said carrier, means, including a spring, for normally maintaining said gear elements out of rela tive engagemei'it, and for effecting intercngagement thereof, respectively, during respectively different periods of movement of said carrier,

15. In a box-covering machine, the comhination with a box-carrier, and mechanism for effecting movement thereof, of a female cutting die-element rigidly mounted on the carrier, a male cutting-die element pivotally associated with the machine frame, gear elements associated with said die elements for effecting relative cutting movement thereof during movement of said carrier, a spring associated with said male element for normally maintaining the same out of operative relation to said female element, a member associated with said male element and normally disposed for engageduring a part i ment by said carrier for effecting rocking movements of said male element in respectively opposite directions to accord with the directions of movement of said carrier, to thereby effect intermeshing of said gear elements associated with said die elements and said member as said male element is rocked in one direction and thereby continue the pivotal movement thereof and effect functioning of both die-elements, said spring adapted to efl'ect continuance of said lastnamed pivotal movement after said gear elements have passed out of mesh following completion of the cutting stroke to thereby throw the male die-element out of engaging relation to the box on the carrier after complet-ion of the cutting operation.

16. In aboX-wrapping machine, the combination with a box-carrier, and mechanism for efl ecting movement thereof, of a female cutting die-element rigidly mounted on the carrier, a male cutting die-element pivotally associated with the machine frame, a gear element concentric with the pivotal axis of said male element, a rack rigid with said carrier and adapted to mesh with said gear element for imparting the cuttingstroke to said male element, a spring associated with the latter for normally maintaining it in a predetermined position to thereby maintain said rack and gear element out of engaging relation to each other, means carried by said male element and normally disposed in the path of said carrier for engagement thereby to turn said male element against the action of said spring to efiect intermeshing of said rack and gear element during a predetermined period in the movement of said carrier, said rack and gear adapted to effectfurther pivotal movement of said male element against the action of said spring to complete a cutting stroke of said male element, reverse rotation of said male element by said spring for returning it to its normal position being effected after said carrier has passed out of engaging relation to said means. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 25th day of August, 1923.

COLEMAN D. CHENEY. 

